What songs are ministering to you right now in this time of tragedy?
I’ll start…
Blessed Be Your Name – Matt Redman
We have all heard this song so many times. It seemed like there was a period of a few years where every single worship record had a cover of this song on it. But at prayer tonight, Jimmy pulled this song back out and led it as a slow song and it was still so powerful.
Amos Story – Aaron Ivey
This song is by our friend Aaron about the two children they are adopting from Haiti. They’ve been in the process for two years and their little girl Story got to come home near the end of October. But Amos is still in Haiti. We are all praying for his soon and safe arrival.
Your turn…?
Todd
God is definitely working on my heart in the area of priorities and what is important to Him. You Did Not Have A Home – Rich Mullins and Mercy In Me – Yours are the two currently coming back to me and urging me to give Him all that I have to gain true wealth. Such great loss always seems so tragic to us, but our God is great and has plans beyond our understanding. What an awesome responsibility and privilege we have to give at this time.
These lines from Hosanna always have an impact on me: “Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like You have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause, as I walk from earth into eternity.”
Also, You Hold Me Now by Hillsong United and Running by CFNI.
Casting Crowns – Praise You in This Storm. It helped us get thru my step-son’s funeral in 2007. He died in a car wreck at age 22 and his daughter was born 2 weeks after that. This song has helped us remember to keep Jesus first as He is in control in the good times and the bad. This song is relevant today as we heard people praising Him in Haiti. To God be the glory.
Also, your song “The Love of God”. God’s love so sure shall still endure. Going off the subject for a moment, I cried the first time I heard this song. The line about when men who hear/here? refuse to pray reminded me of my youngest sister who wants nothing to do with me since I am a Christian and absolutely refuses to believe that the Bible is God-inspired. I pray every day that Jesus can break thru her hard-heartedness and she finally accepts Him. mb (mammogirll)
I think of “Abba,Father” by Accapella. It talks of people crying out for help to the lord and always pops into my head when I see news about the tradgety. It’s kinda like kumbaya and just as deep if not deeper.
I too also think of “Praise you in this Storm” by Casting Crowns. I think the name speaks for itself, but it reminds us to praise God in every trial, struggle, and of course, storm.
Love your music Todd!
God Bless you and Keep You,
Hope
The two songs I’ve been playing over and over lately are from the “Need” bonus songs: “Way of the Cross” and “Glory in Your Cross.” I find comfort and refuge there . . . at the cross.
Hmmm…funny you should ask…I just cannot get enough of My Jesus..gosh the words are just so darn real, dude. I mean God so blessed you with such wisdom to just lay it out there…and it so touches me.
I sent an email to my Pastor (Pastor Chris Seay of Ecclesia), and I wanted to share w/you an excerpt from it.
“This Sunday you asked us to text our responses to several questions, one of which was; “in looking for a new location for our church, what or which would you prefer” (or something to that effect). Gratefully, the census was where ever we could continue serve ‘the lest of these’. Personally, this confirmed my recent commitment to Ecclesia as I am a lest of these. As a survivor of human trafficking, and the whole gamet that goes along with it, I’ve found peace and comfort in His arms in this warehouse artsy place. On any given Sunday I could sit next to a city counsel man or a homeless woman/man with all he owns in a small backpack. What a true blessing that is.
The message of this email is; there’s a song by Todd Agnew from his album Need called My Jesus. ( I’m sure you’ve heard it but if not I will place a link below ) The one line in this song that answers this question with a challenge…. “Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church; The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet”…may our new location NOT be of this….may whomever walks in our door to seek His face regardless of anything, be welcome…This is what I love about Ecclesia the most that right now right here, we accept anyone regardless and without judgmental idealization, and I pray for that aspect to never change.”
So, Todd, thank you for making my appreciation for my church much larger.
thanks so much!
“Follow You” by Leeland and Brandon Heath
“Love is on the Move” by Leeland
I also listened to “Need’ today, and the first 10 chapters of Exodus, just to keep reminding myself that God is ultimately in control; we just need to keep our focus on Him.
Blessings, and know that I’m praying for you and yours.
how great is our God-
“God will work all things out together for the good of those who love Him.” this song is a great reminder that God is not on His throne, wringing His hands together, biting His nails and panicking as what to do. no, He is great, with great plans that will bring great glory to His great Son, Jesus! we may not be able to trace His hand, but we can trust His heart. and trust me you, our great God is more than capable of turning this tragedy into triumph! the question is, will our obedience (as the church, his adopted children, his ambassadors) to surrender to His greatness, in the midst of chaos and calamity, be lived out in a way that the lost world can see a reflection of His love, mercy and grace? “not everyone who SAYS to me LORD, LORD will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only HE WHO DOES the will of my father.” less chatter and more action…
Your Grace is Enough- Matt Maher
My Hiding Place-Selah Modern version of a old Jewish song where we find our strength in the strength of the Lord.
It is Well in My Soul- Although this song as been covered many times I really like the version Todd did as a hidden track on Reflection of Something. It’s an amazing song especially when you look into what the song writer was going through at the time he wrote it. It can really be related to what is going on in Haiti. No matter the circumstances God is in control.
Fernando Ortega’s I Will Praise Him Still – “When the morning falls on the farthest hill, I will sing His name, I will praise Him still. When dark trials come and my heart is filled with the weight of doubt, I will praise Him still. For the Lord, our God, He is strong to save, from the arms of death, from the deepest grave, and He gave us life in His perfect will, and by His good grace I will praise him still.”
Right now the song that has helped me in my troubled times is “You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman. “If God is with me, whom then shall I fear”?
this morning’s slow run, play list -bits and pieces- a balm for a hurting heart
grace like rain
how he loves, david crowder
breathe deep, lost dogs
everlasting
home free, wayne watson
creed, rich mullins
new one…not sure title, “heaven stands”
wait and see, brandon heath
come together & rockstar, third day
carbon leaf (ad infinitum)
take my hand, ben harper & the blind boys of alabama
tom sawyer, rush
hallelujah, jeff buckley
never going to be as big as jesus, audio adrenaline
desperate, phil joel
city on our knees, tobymac
into the ocean, blue october
blessed be your name, matt redmon
vertigo, u2
regina spektor, the call